 Pigs poisoned
Pittsfield, ME (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Oct 31, 2000
County: Somerset
Local Map: available
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
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Mark Calcia of Pittsfield won a case in Skowhegan District Court against the state Agriculture Department.
Within 24 hours of the verdict, Calcia said, 10 of his pigs were dead, poisoned by an unknown caustic or toxic substance.
Six more died the next day.
Although Calcia, 34, is not accusing anyone of poisoning his animals, he said he made no changes on his farm and "it is pretty coincidental" that they died the day after his court hearing.
Calcia, who raises pigs, sheep and fowl on Pooler Road, had been charged in December with illegal importation after local authorities discovered 93 animals on his farm that they said he brought to Maine from Massachusetts.
When Calcia could provide no paperwork showing that the farm animals had been immunized before importation, state humane agent Thomas Eddy charged him and placed his farm under quarantine.
Last Monday, however, Calcia was found not guilty after state officials were unable to prove that the animals came from outside Maine.
When Calcia went to feed the pigs, he found 10 pigs, all about 100 pounds each, dead. Six others had symptoms that made them appear drunk, he said, with wobbling legs. They would not eat or drink and all the six ill pigs subsequently died. Another sow spontaneously aborted 14 babies she was near to delivering. "I lost my best pigs," he said. He estimates the financial loss at more than $2,000.
The carcasses are being tested by the University of Maine, according to the state veterinarian Chip Ridky. At this point, any viral or bacterial infeciton has been fuled out. Ridky siad the causes of death have been determined to be a caustic or toxic substance the pigs ate. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
Back to Top References« ME State Animal Cruelty Map
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